Saponins from the Leaves of Eclipta prostrata

Eclipta prostrata (L.) is a traditional herbal medicine belonging to the Eclipta genus in the Asteraceae family. This plant is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions such as South America and Asia. According to the traditional medicine of some Asian countries (China, India, Thailand), E. prostrata is used to treat hepatic and renal diseases, diabetes, skin diseases, respiratory disorders, cool blood, and stanch bleeding. Besides, it also shows antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antimicrobial activities. In Vietnam, the plant grows naturally in moist soil and is distributed from mountainous areas to plains. It is used to treat coughs and burns, respiratory infections, and boils. In this research, four saponins including eclalbasaponin I-II and eclalbasaponin IV-V were isolated from the methanol extract of Eclipta prostrata using various modern chromatography methods such as TLC, CC, and HPLC. Their chemical structures were identified by analysis of 1D, 2D-NMR, and ESI-MS spectra data and by comparison of the spectral data in the literature. Eclalbasaponin IV and V were first reported from Eclipta prostrata cultivated in Vietnam.